Iceland EU referendum on a knife edge as counting continues
Summary
Iceland held a close referendum on whether to restart talks about joining the European Union. The vote was almost evenly split, with just a small difference between those against and those for resuming membership negotiations.Key Facts
- About 270,000 people in Iceland were eligible to vote in the referendum.
- Early results showed 50.1% voted No and 49.9% voted Yes to resuming EU talks.
- Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir brought the vote forward due to international tensions, including concerns after President Trump showed interest in Greenland.
- The main issue for voters was protecting Iceland’s fishing industry, which makes up nearly 40% of its exports.
- Iceland is already part of the EU’s single market and a border-free travel zone called Schengen.
- Fishery rights have been a long-standing obstacle to Iceland joining the EU.
- A Yes vote means starting negotiations again but not immediately joining the EU.
- Iceland has no military and relies on NATO allies for defense, while it supports Ukraine in the conflict with Russia.
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